Yesterday's Rain

When Sydney leaves the reservation and her life as a bully behind and starts at a new public school, the roles become reversed, and now her new friend Finn is the target of bullies because he is gay. In a unique approach, Sydney decides to save Finn’s bully’s future in football and works to help him see the harm his behaviour causes. Suitable for a Grade 7–12 classroom, this short Hi-Lo text helps students understand the causes and underlying factors that lead to bullying, also weaving in some Indigenous and Ojibwe culture and vocabulary. The novel lends itself well to a literature circle or thematic unit about bullying, diversity, overcoming obstacles, or personal responsibility.